Ned Stark Lives! Part 2

by cbstevp

What would have happened in Westeros if Ned Stark had lived? The story continues, taking us to the Wall, Slaver's Bay, and of course the war between Stannis and the Lannisters. But winter has come, the Others are at the Wall, and the feared long night of myth is about to engulf Westeros and maybe even the whole world.

36. Chapter 36 Shae

Ned Stark Lives! Part 2 Chapter 36 Shae

Shae began plotting her escape from the sept almost from the moment she said goodbye to Tyrion. Over and over in her mind she sought a way to escape, but could think of nothing that did not end with her head in a noose or on a block. She was known throughout the region now, the Imp's Whore, Stannis' Spy, the Wanton Woman, or whatever else they thought up as they gleefully gossiped about the powerful Lannister family's shameful secrets. She had no clothes, no money, no friends, only her wits and her body, and in a septa full of women devoted to their gods her body would not serve at all as it had many times in the past. Perhaps she should start praying as the old septa had wanted her to. Maybe the Seven would even answer the prayers of a disgraced whore.

At first they kept her in a small windowless cell with only a bucket for a chamber pot and a pile of straw for a bed. Her clothes were taken from her and she was given a rough homespun shift to wear but no hosiery or shoes. Her only source of heat and light was a tallow candle that someone lit for her when they brought meals and warned her that she would get no more candles when it melted. The stone cell was cold, and getting colder, with winter coming on fast, and she didn't even have a blanket. Each morning she woke up with the shakes. Twice a day water and food was given to her, barely warm oat porridge in the morning and something more substantial in the evening, usually boiled potatoes, a slice of dark heavy bread, some mashed pease, and sometimes even a bit of fish or pork. She counted the days by these meals and after seven days the head septa came to see her.

"By order of King Tommen you are not allowed to speak," the old woman said to her. "You will remain in this cell and think on your crimes against the realm. After some time you will join the rest of the novices in doing the work of the Seven. But first you must know the Seven. Can you read? Nod if you can."

Shae nodded once and silently in her mind she said a 'fuck you' to the septa and her gods as the old woman handed her a leather bound book. In faded gold gilded lettering was the title, The Seven-Pointed Star, the main tome of The Faith of the Seven. Shae had seen the book when she had been a girl in Lorath, at a time when her mother still believed in such things and her father had not yet raped her.

But that was a long time ago and any such religious beliefs Shae had learned as a child were quickly dispelled by the realities of life as a girl and then a woman in a man's world. She had overcome many obstacles, mainly by giving men what they wanted, which was always her body, and sometimes her companionship. Money and gifts they gave her, secrets they told her while lying on pillows, and with such she managed to improve her life and escape from the east to the west. She learned of a merchant who sailed often to Westeros and soon became his steady play thing, and when he took a journey to Westeros she begged to be taken along. He agreed and a month later they landed in Oldtown. He was not a bad man, but she was tired of him and the smell of his ship and after they reach Oldtown she soon disappeared with a hefty bag of the merchant's coin.

Yet life was no bed of roses in Westeros either. The coin eventually ran out, and with her limited knowledge of the Common Tongue of Westeros she found herself once more on her back in order to stay alive. She learned to speak the local language by bits and pieces. And she soon learned that in Westeros she was more than just a woman, but something exotic. With her dark looks and accent and skills in the bedroom, she could charge more coin and men would pay it. She stayed away from men who were too strong willed, drunkards, or prone to violence. She found those who were none of these things, and were also weak and generous, and who had plenty of money, to be rare, but when she did find one she latched onto him until either his money ran out, his family learned of his dalliances, or she grew bored with him. Thus, by twists and turns after a few years she ended up in Lannisport and soon was a camp follower as Tywin Lannister's host marched east to confront the Tullys and the Starks.

Then one day while she was boiling some water in a pot over a fire outside the tent of a certain minor Lannister lord, a dark-haired man with a steely look wandered by and stopped to talk to her.

"You his woman?" was the first thing he had said, with a nod to the tent.

"I am no one's woman," Shae had replied in an insolent tone. The lord was gone to some meeting or another and Shae was alone for the moment.

The man laughed. "Right, and you don't fuck for food or coin either I suppose?"

"I do…for the right man," Shae answered. "But you are not him."

"Never said it was for me," the man answered. "I'm Bronn and I work for Lord Tyrion Lannister. You know who he is?"

"Everyone knows who he is. How many dwarves are sons to the great lord?"

"Just one. He's looking for a woman and he has the coin to pay well. You know what they say about Lannisters?'

"That they are all arrogant and think they rule the world?"

Bronn laughed again. "Aye, but no one says it to their faces. But Lord Tyrion is not like the rest. Least I don't think he is. What say you?"

Shae hesitated. She had seen the little man waddling around the camp. She had seen this one who called himself Bronn also, trailing behind the dwarf, and knew who he was as soon as he had stopped to talk to her. Tyrion Lannister was no man to look at for long, but still he was powerful and had money. She also heard he was a drunk but not a violent one, that he liked to read books, and seemed to have a kind-hearted manner as well. Besides, the minor lord she was with now was a nobody. She made up her mind.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" she said and from that moment on her life changed forever. By more twists and turns she fell in love with the little Imp and then his powerful sister took her vengeance on him by accusing Shae of being a spy and dragging her before the whole of the court to see. Cersei had promised freedom, and a ship to take her to the east once she condemned Tyrion, but Shae had never really believed it. If she ever set foot on a ship she was sure the crew would have orders to cut her throat and throw her over the side once out of sight of land.

But she had to play the part, to buy time, to find another way out of this morass. First, she had to convince the goaler and Cersei that she was broken and was complying with her demands. It did not take much to convince them, as Shae had been truly terrified while held upside and naked in the barrel of water. She thought she might die, despite knowing Cersei needed her words to condemn Tyrion. Yet accidents could happen. Shae did not die, not yet, and she told the bitch all of it, even things that never happened that Cersei wanted to be true. She had to tell her what she wanted, to buy time, to stay alive.

She knew Tyrion would be smart enough to see through it all, that she had confessed and lied under torture, and the looks on his face told her he did, though he also looked hurt beyond words. She wanted to cry then, but held her tears back. Then came the trial and for certain Shae knew Cersei would never let her go, that she would be hung or beheaded before all the smirking faces. She was ready to shout out her innocence and to say she had been tortured into confessing when suddenly the situation changed. Tommen, sweet little Tommen, saved her life, but there was a price. Condemned to silence and the life of a septa. Shae had no choice but take this punishment, with hopes of somehow escaping in the future. But so far no chance came her way.

Bored with her confinement, Shae found herself reading the book the septa had given her. But that only lasted one day. Suddenly the following morning two young septa's came to her cell and threw some clothes at her, a septa's grayish robes and head cowl, and a pair of socks and cracked leather sandals for her feet.

"Get dressed," one said. "You have a visitor."

And so Sandor Clegane came to see her, for the first time. As she was led by the head septa to an outer sept room with a single bench she was advised to not speak and to reveal nothing of her punishment. So she had been obedient, certain that if the septas reported any transgressions her punishment might easily be changed to a noose or a chopping block. The Hound came once that first week. Then she heard the whispers of the fight between the Clegane brothers and how the Hound had killed the Mountain but barely clung to life after receiving a grievous wound. So for the first time since she was a child Shae had prayed to the Seven to save a good man. After that Bronn came to see her and told her all that had happened, that the Hound would live, and that there was trouble brewing in the North and the Riverlands.

"He still loves you," Bronn told her, with no need to say who. "But he must forget you."

Shae only nodded, the head septa hovering nearby as she always did when Shae had visitors. Shae had told Tyrion to find another woman, a good woman, to marry and give him children. She only hoped he would listen.

A few weeks later and it was the Hound who came to see her again, this time looking a bit thinner, but still alive. And he had more news, that Tyrion and Bronn had gone to try to make peace with Stannis Baratheon. Again Shae prayed, this time for two more good men.

By now she had been moved from her tiny cold cell and was allowed to work in the kitchens of the sept and do other tasks, preparing food for the poor of Lannisport, washing clothing for the sailors and soldiers who defended the port, and helping with whatever tasks she was told to do. They even allowed her to take a bath once a week and gave her a better room, with a small barred window and a small brazier to help keep her warm. But she was never allowed to leave the sept and was constantly watched.

One morning Shae was just rising and getting dressed when the septs bells began to ring. She was a bit surprised at first, but then thought it was perhaps some call to prayer or some other ceremony. Only after she emerged from her room and saw the other novices and septas running did she realize something was wrong.

She grabbed one young girl's arm and stopped her. "Let go!" the girl cried in terror but Shae only squeezed harder and finally she spoke, for the first time in over a moon's turn

"What is happening?"

She was shocked at the sound of her voice after so long and her throat suddenly felt raw and dry. Shae thought the girl would tell on her but the girl was so scared she just shouted. "The ironmen are back!" Then she wrenched her arm free of Shae's grasp and ran away.

Shae ran after her and in the confusion no one seemed to notice she was entering restricted areas or even cared. Soon she was outside with the rest of them, the first time she had been in the fresh air for more than moon's turn. The streets were full of running people, terror on many faces. The sun was rising behind the sept to the east, but to the west the sun's rays were just hitting the ocean. Shae moved to a spot where she could look between two building towards the just rebuilt docks and the stone mole, and the ocean beyond. There on the horizon she could see many black dots, that slowly grew larger and now took on the ominous shapes of sails and then ships' hulls.

"Everyone back inside!" shouted the old septa, whose name Shae didn't even know. "We must prepare for the wounded."

The old septa started hustling them back into the sept, and just as she noticed Shae two septons came out and started talking to her and the three began to argue. Shae did not hear them and did not want to wait for someone to notice her where she was not supposed to be. She thought to run away then but the press of bodies around her was too great. Not only were the novices and septas running back into the sept. Many people followed them, all in a panic, perhaps thinking there was refuge in the sept. But they were mistaken. There would be no refuge anywhere from the wrath of the ironmen.

The Battle of Lannisport was soon begun and soon over. By midday the sept was overflowing with wounded men and terrified people. The smell of blood and smoke was everywhere. Shae helped where she could but she also plotted her own escape. The first thing she did was grab a knife from the kitchens and strap it with a length of leather cord to her right thigh. Then she started to steal food and put it in a canvas sack that she hid back in her small room. She thought she had more time, but the Lannister defenses crumpled quickly and the ironmen were soon running riot over the town.

The sept was not spared. As the invaders broke down the doors, Shae had no chance to go back to her room. She and one other septa were alone in the kitchens when the screams and running feet told her the worse had happened.

The older speta got on her knees and prayed. Her name was Rosa, one of the few who had tried to be a little bit helpful to Shae. "May the Seven save us," she started to shout and then Shae slapped her face and screamed at her.

"Fuck the Seven! Help me find a place to hide!"

The woman was so shocked she didn't speak for a moment and then her face turned angry and she rose to her feet. "You are forbidden to speak!"

"Go! Go and tell the King! Tell his whore of a mother! They will all be dead with us soon enough you stupid fucking cow!"

"How dare you speak to me like that you…you…whore!"

Shae laughed. "Yes, I am Shae, the Imp's Whore. Now do you want to be raped and killed by these madmen or help me find a place to hide?"

"They wouldn't dare rape a septa!"

Shae shook her head. "Okay, you stay here and find out. Me, I'm going."

Then there was a scream from somewhere in the sept and Rosa's certainty left her. "Come. The root cellar," she said quickly, her voice filled with fear.

So in the root cellar they hid for almost seven days. They had some food, but it was all raw vegetables, turnips, carrots, potatoes, and corn. Only the carrots they could stomach raw and they dare not risk a fire to cook. The first night Shae managed to sneak out and get a loaf of bread and a half a bottle of wine and that helped, but soon they were getting more hungry and were especially thirsty. They were surprised the ironmen had not ventured down here yet. The door was in the floor just off the kitchens, but it was in alcove. so maybe they did not notice it. They could hear footsteps and voices above them but no one ventured in their hiding place.

Then one night after Shae had fallen asleep on some sacks of potatoes she heard a loud scream above her. The trap door was open and soon she realized Rosa was gone.

"Fuck," Shae said under her breath. No doubt Rosa had gone up for some foolish reason and she had gotten caught by the ironmen. Shae's fears were soon confirmed. She had just gotten her knife out of her hiding place when two big men dropped into the root cellar through the trap door. One held a lantern while the other advanced on her with a gleam in his eye.

"Come out of there," he demanded, in a rough voice. "We won't harm you."

"Fuck you," Shae snarled at him and the big man laughed and advanced closer. She leaped for his throat but he was quicker and knocked her knife hand aside and smashed a fist into her face. Shae crumpled to the floor and tasted blood inside her mouth. The big man kicked the knife away and dragged her out of the cellar.

Above, Rosa was on her knees, held by two more ironmen. "I'm sorry" she said. "I was thirsty." Shae said nothing, only glowered at her and Rosa looked away, shame in her eyes.

"I'll take the skinny one," one of the big ironmen said with a laugh.

"These are for the King and the Damphair," the one who had hit Shae said. "They will decide what to do with all these who support the non-believers' religion."

And so they were dragged before Theon Greyjoy and Rosa was soon discarded and given to the ironmen to play with and Shae cared not a bit. Then it was her turn and the King wanted her for his own plaything and so she let him have her. He talked much, this King, and Shae knew he was lonely and so she let him talk and she told him many things and he in turn told her many things. After he was done with her he ordered a woman to take her to the front of his ship and lock her in a small cabin.

The cabin in the bow of the ship was small, narrowing a bit as the ship's sides narrowed to form the bow. It was dark and the woman lit a hooded lantern that smelled of fish. It was filled with whale oil, Shae later discovered. Inside the cabin there was not much, just a narrow bunk built into the ship's side, a small table and two small chairs, and a bucket that smelled of piss.

As she had been taken along the deck it was still night and Shae did not see much of the ship's outline, except that the front pointed toward the harbor entrance and the back toward the land and the town. She knew they were tied up at a large dock, the largest in the harbor and that all around were many more ships. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and the sea.

"You will stay here until the King calls for you," the woman told Shae. She was much older than Shae, had brown hair with grey in it, and her body was a bit heavy.

"He said to let me have a bath," Shae replied.

"I will fetch you a bucket with hot water."

Shae glared at her, ready to test this woman. "That is no bath fit for the King's woman."

The woman stared back, and Shae saw she had some steel in her. "You are not the King's woman, just something he will play with for a while until he grows bored. And he always grows bored with his playthings eventually."

Shae chuckled lightly. "Not with me he won't."

"Then may the Seven help you," the woman said and then her face turned grim. "But mark my words. All the Greyjoys tire of their women eventually. You will be no different."

But Shae had barely heard the last bit. "You worship the Seven?"

"I do," the woman said with a touch of pride.

"I thought all people of the Iron Islands worshiped some other god."

"The Drowned God. Most do. Not all. And I am not from the Iron Islands." The last was also said with some hint of pride.

"Oh? Where are you from?"

"Here…I mean, not Lannisport, but nearby."

Shae looked at her in puzzlement. "I don't understand."

"I am much a prisoner as you are, my dear. I was taken from my home as a young girl."

Shae put on a sympathetic look. "What is your name?"

"Sylvia."

"I am Shae."

"I know. The men of the ship are all talking about you."

"What do they say?"

"Not to touch you, though many wish to,…so count yourself lucky for that."

"Do they touch you?"

That took Sylvia aback. "No…not these days." He eyes took on a far away look and Shae knew the woman had been abused at some time in the past. It was time to take a chance.

"I saw a small wooden bathtub in the King's cabin."

"That…the King ordered you to be kept in here."

Shae knew she could never escape from this room. It had no windows, not even a small porthole. "He also ordered me to have a bath."

Sylvia shook her head. "I will get that water for you."

She turned to leave but Shae grabbed her arm. "This is your only chance to escape from them."

Sylvia just laughed and that surprised Shae. "And go where? It has been twenty years. All my family is dead or has forgotten about me. No, this is my home now."

"A home with no love, no family, no children, no freedom. They took all that away from you."

Sylvia didn't laugh this time, just stared at Shae. "Don't try to escape. They will kill you."

"What will the King do to me when he tires of me as you say?"

"Give you to one of his men. Or worse." There was no need to explain what that meant. " I will fetch that water now."

This time Shae did not stop her. A short while later Sylvia returned with a bucket of hot water, a piece of soap, and two towels. She also had some tea, moon tea, which Shae drank right away. After Sylvia left again to get her fresh clothing, Shae stripped and quickly washed herself. The water was sea water and it was warm, not hot, but after seven days in hiding it felt good to wash away some of the grime. A short while later Sylvia returned, just as Shae wrapped herself in a rough blanket she had taken from the bunk.

"I have no spare woman's clothing on board," Sylvia told her. "This will have to do for now." She tossed Shae a pair of seaman's breeches, a woolen brown shirt, and a sealskin jacket, all of it too big for her.

Shae looked at it all and made a face. "The King will not like me dressed as a common seaman."

"I am sure you will not be dressed for long. You can stay naked or wear this, I care not. Later, I can ask one of the men to fetch something nice for you from the town."

"Perhaps it is better if you go as you are a woman," Shae said as she began to dress.

"I am not allowed to leave the ship."

"Your own homeland and you cannot even set foot on it," Shae said in a slight mocking tone. "You are truly as much a prisoner as I am."

For one brief moment Sylvia's lower lip quivered and then she controlled her self. "Get some sleep. One never knows what the morrow will bring."

After Sylvia left Shae got dressed and lay on the bunk that was built into the wall. It had a straw mattress that was a bit scratchy but more comfortable than the sacks of potatoes she had been sleeping on for the last week. She blew out the lantern and tried to sleep but it did not come easily. Shae knew that two men were outside her door, there to prevent her escape and also to protect her from the rest of the crew. The ship made strange noises she was not used to and it swayed slightly from time to time. Also she sometimes heard footsteps on the deck above her head. She stayed awake for a long time, expecting Theon to come for her but he did not and sometime in the night she finally drifted off.

Shae knew it was morning when the door opened and Sylvia came in with breakfast. She left the door opened to let in some light and set the tray of food on the table. It was dried fish, bread, an apple, and some ale in a big clay mug. Shae felt the cold from outside and quickly put on her overlarge seaman's jacket.

"Eat and then…stay here," was all Sylvia said and as she started to leave Shae stopped her.

"Where is the King?"

"I know not."

"What is happening?"

Sylvia snorted. "War is happening," she said and then she was gone again. All day Shae stayed in the cabin and did nothing, except try to sleep and think on how to escape. She checked every nook and cranny of the room and there was no way out except the door. She had to get to the main deck or at least to the King's cabin in the stern where there were four windows. If he comes for me I will ask him to take me there and then when he sleeps I will escape out the stern windows.

She thought on killing Theon also but put away that thought as both difficult to achieve and reckless. In truth he had only done to her what many other men in the past had done. In fact, the ironmen's attack had saved her from the sept and the life of misery she was doomed to live. She also secretly hoped the ironmen would storm the Rock and kill Cersei and take…the children.

No, she did not want that. She did not want Tommen and Myrcella to come to harm. They were not to blame for their mother and father's crimes. Shae had grown fond of them in the brief time she had known them. And Tyrion would not want any harm to come to them at all. That she knew for certain.

And so Shae came to a crossroads. Stay here with the ironmen and let the King fuck me until he grows bored with me. Or escape and make my way inland and away from all these fucking armies and their bloody wars. Or…or…warn the castle of what was coming soon. How that last thought even entered her head she knew not, but once there it was hard to dismiss as much as she would have liked to forget it.

Staying here was the safest course…for the moment. Theon seemed to enjoy her and she knew other ways to make him really enjoy her. But Sylvia's warning stuck in her head. He would tire of her, he could never marry her no more than Tyrion could, and so someday he would discard her. And if he did marry and Shae was still around then the new wife would no doubt make sure Shae was soon dead or given to some brute.

Escaping was no easy task. She had to get out of this room, off the ship and somehow get through the siege lines and out of the town. She had the sailor's clothes that could help disguise her, if she made it off the ship. But then what? She had no money, no food, nothing, and she was infamous in these parts. Someone would recognize her and she'd be arrested. All the same problems as confronted her when she was in the sept.

Finally, the third choice stared her in the face - escape and try to warn the castle that King Theon knew a way inside. Even if that were true, how could she warn them? And why should she even bother? These Lannisters were no friends of hers for certain. But…but…if she did something for them…perhaps the sentence would be lifted and she would be free to go. Cersei would never do it, she'd sooner kill Shae and be done with her. But Tommen would. Tommen would pardon her and help her, if she helped him, as she had at King's Landing.

As the day wore on Shae decided that was her only choice if she wanted any kind of future. Now she just had to figure out how to get out of here. And for that she needed Sylvia.

Shae had to wait all day for the woman to return, sometime in late afternoon. This time she had brought a bowl of fish stew and more bread and ale, and a nice dress. Sylvia put the dress on the bunk. Shae ate and asked Sylvia to sit with her.

"I'm busy," she said quickly and started to leave.

"No…please…I'm lonely…and scared."

Sylvia hesitated and then sat down with Shae.

"That is a nice dress," Shae commented after Sylvia had sat down. It wasn't really a nice dress, just plain green with white lace trim, but Shae was trying to be kind. "Where did you get it?"

"One of the men brought it from the town."

Stolen from some house no doubt, the owners already dead. Shae sipped some ale and noticed Sylvia was fidgeting. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes," Sylvia answered, her tone nervous. "I'm sorry…I must go."

"Where is the King?" Shae asked quickly.

"I have not seen him all day," Sylvia said as she stood.

"What is going on?"

Sylvia hesitated and then spoke in a whisper. "They are planning a big attack. Soon it will be all over."

"He really knows a secret way into the castle?"

Sylvia looked at her with big eyes. "How do you know that?"

"He told me. Last night."

Sylvia grew angry. "Stupid boy. He was always too eager to please, too eager to show off, and too eager to talk."

Shae was taken aback. "Ah…how long have you known him?"

"All his life, except when the Starks had him. Then he stabbed them in the back and now they want his head! He was stupid to try to take Winterfell. Stupid to come here. The men are grumbling, saying he is no leader, that they should have voted for Victarion or Euron at the kingsmoot."

Shae didn't know who they were or what she was talking about but it didn't matter. "He won't take Casterly Rock either and if he does he won't keep it. The Lannisters no doubt are already sending reinforcements. The Kingslayer and Lord Tyrion will never stop until every ironman is dead. They won't spare anyone. Even you."

Sylvia now looked scared. "Me? I am nobody."

Shae pressed on, knowing if she stopped now she was lost. She stood and looked at Sylvia closely in the gloom of the cabin. "When they see their women raped and their children dead they won't care," Shae told her in a harsh tone. "They will kill you all…if you are lucky."

"The fleet will sail before then," Sylvia replied but she did not sound confident.

Shae snorted in derision. "Ha. Never. King Theon's pride was hurt at Winterfell. You say the men are grumbling. He cannot leave Casterly Rock without taking it. He will never leave here. And neither will you or the rest."

Sylvia grabbed Shae's arm, her face full of fear. "You will tell them. Tell them I treated you well!"

"Only if you help me escape."

Sylvia gulped. "How?"

Shae knew she had won. "Get me to the King's cabin. I will do the rest."

The woman hesitated and then sat down again and let out a big sigh. "The father, Balon Greyjoy, he was a good man. Wise, but still…he wanted a return to glory for his people. That led to all this stupidity."

Shae waited for her reply to her request and was about to repeat it when Sylvia spoke. "Yes…but wait for nightfall. Perhaps in the confusion of the attack we can escape."

"We?"

Sylvia stood up. "I am coming with you." With that she left.

Darkness came and Shae waited, still in the sailor's clothes. After more time, a knock came and Sylvia entered. "Pick up the dress," she said quickly. "Come. We must go now."

She opened the door and spoke to the guards. "The King told me to give this one a proper bath, to get her ready for his pleasure after his great victory."

The guard outside grunted. "We have orders not to let her out."

"As you wish. But I am sure the King will be disappointed."

"Don't play games with me, woman," the guard growled. "What do you want?"

"Just to take her to the stern cabin to the bathtub there."

Gods, Shae thought, the woman was stupid. All the guard had to say was 'bring the tub here' and they were done. But he merely grunted again. "Be quick about it."

They walked out onto the deck into the cold night air, and Shae could see everything as the moonlight fell across the deck. The harbor was still packed with ships, and the town was very quiet. Across the dock she thought she heard wheels creaking but she saw little movement.

The stern cabin was as it had been yesterday. The guards took up stations outside the doors as Sylvia went to fetch some hot water from the galley below decks. She made three trips to fill the tub. As Shae waited she inspected the stern windows. There were four, all made of iron frames with stained glass in them depicting sea monsters and sailing ships. Shae knew little of ships, but no doubt this was so fine as it was the King's ship.

She opened one window and looked out. Immediately to the stern was another ironman galley, close by so that Shae could almost touch its prow if she stretched out. Way past this ship were more ships and then to the left a bit in the distance she could she the walls of the Lion's Mouth, dark and forbidding. Then if she stretched her neck she could she the bulk of Casterly Rock bathed in moonlight with just a few lights showing.

Down below was the water of the harbor, with the moonlight reflecting off it. To her left was the main part of the harbor, and to her right close at had was the dock. Shae thought she just might be able to swing over there. By chance, or luck, or the gods' favor, some barrels and crates were there, which could hide them if they made it to the dock.

Sylvia returned with the last bucket of water and filled the tub. "Get in," Sylvia said. "In case they look."

Shae slipped out of her clothes and entered the water, which was hot. As she did so Sylvia kept looking to the door. "What is your plan?" Sylvia whispered.

"Out the stern windows, and we swing over to the dock on some rope."

"I have no rope, only this." Sylvia reached into her dress and pulled out two hats that were made of sealskin. "To hide our hair, so we look like men."

"You are still wearing a dress."

"The King has extra clothing here. You wear his and I'll wear yours, as it is a bit bigger."

"Good. First, we make a rope from the blankets and sheets."

As Shae made noise splashing and sang and old song from her childhood in her native tongue Sylvia tied the bedding together. Then Sylvia found some of Theon's clothes for Shae and Sylvia put on the sailor's clothes Shae had just been wearing.

"Keep splashing the water as I dress," Shae told her and soon both were dressed and ready to leave, without the guards even so much as looking in at them.

The bedding rope was tied tightly to the bed post and Shae climbed out the window first. She feared falling to the water but took a deep breath, controlled her fears and then slipped out and down. She reached out with her left foot but could not touch the dock. After a few swings she managed it and then with one hand on the bedding rope and one of the woodwork of the stern she gave one heave and fell to the dock. She lay still for a moment and when no one shouted she knew she had gone unnoticed.

Meanwhile Sylvia was awkwardly climbing out the window. For one brief moment Shae thought the woman would fall to the harbor and undo all their plans but she was more agile than Shae gave her credit for. Soon she was on the bedding rope and with Shae's help she was soon on the dock as well.

"Now what?" Sylvia asked. Shae pulled her hair up and put on her seaman's hat. Sylvia did the same.

"We walk," Shae said and then she stood and Sylvia followed her lead. In the moonlight they could see well enough to walk but Shae also feared others would see them. But as they moved she realized there was no one about. Not a soul was on the docks.

"Where are they?" she whispered to Sylvia.

"Drunk, or sleeping, or getting ready to kill again."

Soon they were in the town. Neither knew it well, and much had been damaged. The smell of death and ash hung over everything. Shae kept the harbor to her left, she knew to do that much at least, for that would take her where she wanted to go. Soon she would have to tell Sylvia and Shae worried about her reaction.

As they rounded a corner Shae stopped suddenly and caught her breath. Up ahead of them they saw something massive in the street. It was like a house on wheels. Horses were in front pulling it and dozens of ironmen were pushing from behind. They were silent except for their grunts as they pushed but fortunately no one seemed to notice the two women dressed as common sailors. Leading the group and giving orders in a quiet voice was one of those Shae had seen seated at the table when she was brought before the King.

"Who is he?" she asked in a low voice as they moved into the shadows made by a house.

"The King's uncle, Lord of Harlaw," Sylvia replied. "They call him the Reader for his love of books."

"He is a Greyjoy?"

"No, his sister married King Theon's father. Lord Harlaw is a smart man, but the ironmen laugh at him to his face and call him weak."

Shae shook her head. "Strength in battle is not all. The smartest man I know is a dwarf and he has won more victories with his brain than with a sword."

"A dwarf?"

"Tyrion Lannister."

Sylvia grunted. "I know of this one. He was but a babe when I was kidnapped. The gods way of keeping Lord Tywin humble, my father said, but not too loudly."

Humble was not a word Shae would have used for any Lannister but she could see why the people thought the gods cursed Lord Tywin when they took his wife and gave him a dwarf for a son. But humble him it did not. It only made him angry and unable to love the son who only wanted to be loved, by anyone.

They stayed there a few more moments until the massive thing was pushed and pulled out of sight. "Come," Shae said and she moved further down the street, with Sylvia behind. Soon they came upon more ironmen, in the streets ahead, and Shae knew they were near the siege lines because through a gap in the buildings she could see the Lion's Mouth in the distance. Shae cursed as she realized there was no way they were getting past that lot. Time for a change of plans.

"We must go to the right, through the town, and then make our way…over the hills."

"Yes," Sylvia agreed and Shae moved off to the right. For a while they walked, hiding in shadows as much as they could, looking carefully around corners, keeping hidden when the odd ironman was spotted. They finally reached the south part of town, near where the southern beach was and the barricade above the high tide mark. The road leading from Casterly Rock past the town and to the south was near as well. Shae looked left and saw the ironmen siege lines facing the Lion's Mouth hundreds of yards away. As she looked right she saw a roadblock with a dozen ironmen manning it, only about fifty yards away. Across the road were some low hills with short grasses and bushes.

"We must cross in the open now," Shae said. Just at that moment, darkness came and Shae looked up to see clouds hiding the moon and maybe the gods were on her side for once. "Now!" she said and she ran across the open space and was across the road in seconds and she flopped down in the sandy brush. In moments Sylvia was with her. Shae crawled as Sylvia followed until they were in better cover.

"Gods, I can't believe it," Sylvia said, almost in tears. "I am free."

"Not yet," Shae said. "We still have to find a place with no ironmen." She got up in a crouch and then as they walked they moved over the hills and as they came over the hill there was the village where Shae had once lived in a small house with Ser Wilfred. But even in the half light of the hidden moon Shae could see the village was no more, all the homes burned, and the stench of unburied bodies was harsh on their senses.

"They killed them all," Sylvia said in a forlorn tone.

Shae said nothing but walked on moving to the left and Sylvia followed. Soon they were near the place where two roads met. One way went down into the village, another way went to Lannisport. A third way went up the hills towards the goldmines. And the fourth way went to the main gate of the Lion's Mouth. Now it was directly to their left front, with the ironman siege lines to their far left.

"Gods, where are you taking us?" Sylvia asked in a harsh tone as she dropped to the ground behind a bush.

Shae had already made her mind up hours ago. "There," she said as she pointed to the Lion's Mouth. "Come with me or not, that is your decision."

"They will kill us!"

"So will the ironmen, even if you go back now. Me, I am going there."

"Wait!" Sylvia said, and the fear was obvious in her voice. "Yes…wait for me!"

Shae stood up and in a half crouch she moved toward the fork in the road, the high walls of the Lion's Mouth only about fifty yards away now, Sylvia close on her heels. They both might have made it, too, but at that moment the gods favor left them and the moonlight betrayed them as the clouds moved away. A shout came from the walls.

"Ironmen!"

Then a bow or a crossbow twanged and Sylvia let out a grunt and fell to the ground. One look at her and Shae saw a shaft sticking out of her chest as Sylvia gurgled her last breath.

Shae had to act fast or she was dead as well. She ripped off her sailor's hat and shouted. "I am the Imp's Whore!"

Either they didn't hear her or didn't care or had orders to kill her. Something twanged again and Shae fell to the ground as the missile flew past where she had been standing.

"FUCK!" she shouted. "GET THE HOUND! SANDOR CLEGANE! THE IRONMEN ARE ATTACKING!"

Now she heard curses coming from the siege lines and they clearly had heard her. "KILL THAT BITCH!" came a shout and more twangs came from both directions and missiles fell around her as she ran for the walls.

"STOP SHOOTING, YOU SONS OF WHORES!" roared a voice from above and she knew it was the Hound. "OPEN THE POSTERN GATE!"

Shae ran to the walls and soon saw a small door opening nearby. She reached it just as a heavy rock slammed into the wall nearby and she barely avoided the splatter of rock and brick from its hit. Rough hands grabbed her and pulled her inside and the door was slammed shut behind her and barred.

"It's the fucking bitch!" said a harsh voice and a Lannister man spat on her. "The Imp's Whore. I say we gut her!"

"After we rape her!" said another with glee.

"I came to warn you of an ironman attack!" Shae yelled at them.

"We can see them, whore," said a third voice. "We…"

But the man never finished as he was pulled back and thrown to the stone floor of the corridor. In the light of a torch Shae saw the Hound with two other men, one a Lannister officer.

"You fucking idiots," the Hound growled at the three men who had been tormenting Shae. "The Imp will have your guts if he hears of this! Get back to your posts!"

The three soldiers scrambled away from his wrath. Shae grabbed Clegane's arm. "The ironmen are coming!"

"We know," the Hound replied and as if to punctuation his words Shae felt the floor shudder as something heavy hit the outside walls.

"No, you don't!" she pleaded with him. "Theon Greyjoy told me he knows a way inside the castle."

"Impossible," said the officer and Shae now saw it was Ser Robyn Serrett , the officer who had been at Harrenhal with them. "There is no way into the Lion's Mouth except this hidden door and the main gate.

"Not here," Shae told them. "Casterly Rock."

The Hound stared at her. "Tell me it all." Quickly she spoke and when she was done the Hound cursed.

"She could be right," he said to Ser Robyn.

"But…how?" came the reply.

Before anyone could answer him came a shout. "They are bringing up a ram!"

"Gods," Ser Robyn said. "We best get above."

"Come with us," the Hound commanded her and Shae followed. Up and up they went until they reached a higher tower and as Shae looked out her heart quailed.

All the ironmen were advancing, with the house-like thing she had seen earlier being pushed in front. It was clear now it was a ram of some sort, covered over with a wooden frame and roof. The defenders were firing great sheets of arrows and crossbow bolts and ironmen were hit and falling and dying, but still they pressed on, the great ram moving slowly toward the main gate.

"What do we do?" one nearby soldier quailed.

"Do? You fight and die!" the Hound yelled at him. He turned to Ser Robyn. "Can you lead a sortie?"

The knight shook his head. "There are too many, we'd never get the gates closed again."

"Then prepare the boiling oil and fire arrows," the Hound ordered. "And send your best man to warn the castle of some possible treachery."

"At once," Ser Robyn said but Shae's words stopped him.

"She will never believe it," Shae said. "You know how stubborn and stupid she is! Theon said Cersei will be killed and they will take the children alive and force you all to lay down arms."

"You must go, Clegane," Ser Robyn advised after Shae had finished. "She will believe it from you."

The Hound grimaced and then cursed, his eyes resting on Shae. "You're coming too."

Shae grinned wanly. "Yes, why not? The Queen will surely believe me."

But the Hound wasn't even looking at her anymore. "Kill as many as you can and then fall back to the second fort if all looks lost," he told Ser Robyn.

"It will be done," Ser Robyn promised and the two men shook hands and before she knew it Shae was dragged by the arm down the stone steps. In moments they reached the stables and the Hound mounted his big war horse. He held out a hand and Shae took it and was pulled up behind him.

The trip to the top wasn't long, but at each gate they had to wait for the doors to be opened. Men shouted to the Hound, asking for news, and he told the captain at each fort to send what men he could spare to the Lion's Mouth and prepare all their defenses. On they rode till they reached the main gates of the castle where they left his horse and started to head for the main doors.

"Stop!" the captain of the guard shouted and he pointed at Shae. "She is not permitted to enter!"

The Hound bristled. "You idiot! The ironmen are attacking. We must speak with the Queen."

"Not her."

The Hound grabbed the man by the front of his surcoat and pulled him up to where he was barely on his tiptoes. "Listen to me, you stupid sack of shit. The ironmen may already be inside the castle. Send your men inside to the lower levels and stop any intruders."

"Let go of me," the captain struggled as his men around them drew swords and blocked the doors. The Hound let him down and he glared at Clegane. "We have orders to guard this gate and the main doors. We will not leave our post!"

"Then get out of our way!" the Hound shouted and after a nod from the captain the men parted and the Hound entered the castle with Shae close on his heels.

"Fucking Lannisters," the Hound growled under his breath loud enough for her to hear. "They'll follow orders till they die like the fools they are. It's all her fault, that bitch. She has them so scared she'll hang them if they disobey that they shit their breeches."

"Tyrion said the same once."

"Aye, and I wish he was here. She hates him but she would listen and he would find a way to make her see it was true. We must convince her. Say nothing unless you have to. She'll be mad enough just seeing you."

Soon they reached the Queen's quarters and her two guards were surprised to see visitors at this late hour. "The Queen is resting," one said. "She is not to be disturbed."

"I have urgent business," the Hound said. But the two men blocked the doorway. "Listen you fools, the ironmen are attacking in strength. I must make my report."

But then the doors flung open and Cersei was there in her night dressing gown. "What is…?" The last words did not escape her mouth as she spotted Shae. "What is she doing here?" Cersei asked in barely suppressed rage.

The Hound stood directly in front of Shae in a protective manner. "She came to warn us of an ironman attack."

"She is forbidden to speak!" Cersei almost screamed. "How did she tell you about this attack?"

"I told him with my tongue," Shae said without fear.

"Drag her to a cell!" Cersei ordered her guards in a shrill voice.

"Lay a hand on her and you will lose it!" the Hound growled to a guard who had stepped forward. The Hound turned back to an outraged Cersei. "Listen to me, you stupid cunt. Shae heard Theon Greyjoy talking about a secret way into the castle."

Cersei turned red with anger. "How dare…"

"I don't give a fuck about you and what you do to me!" the Hound shouted at her. "The fucking castle is about to be invaded."

And indeed as his words finished they could hear the clash of steel on steel from somewhere inside. Cersei now turned almost white. "Are they inside…already?"

"Apparently," Shae said in exasperation.

"But…how?" a guard asked.

"We don't know," the Hound answered. "We must warn the castle, and get men here to fight!"

"No," Cersei said in a panicky tone. "We must get the children and find a way out." She turned to her guards. "Go to the King's rooms at once! Wake him and the Princess. Tell them to dress warmly." They left without a word at a run. Then she ran back into her room. The Hound and Shae followed.

Cersei was behind a dressing screen and clothing was flying as she changed. She spoke as she dressed. "We must leave the castle."

"We must fight!" the Hound repeated strongly.

"With what?" Cersei scoffed. "My idiot brothers took most of the men with them. No one has responded to our pleas for help! We have been abandoned. Our duty now is to save the children."

"We will never get out now," Shae said. "The road is too dangerous."

Cersei stepped out from behind her dressing screen. "Gods. We are trapped." Cersei looked at the Hound. "Is there is no way out except the road?"

"I know a way," he answered wearily. "Your aunt told me."

"Where?"

"In the crypts. Take a heavy cloak. We will be outside before the night is done…Your Grace."

Cersei grabbed a cloak and minutes later they were at Tommen's rooms. Ser Arys had already brought a sleepy eyed Myrcella from her rooms and Tommen was awakened by Ser Preston. Both children were still pulling on cloaks. They also had ten more guards who the Hound now ordered to guard the nearby corridor entrances.

"What is Shae doing here?" Myrcella asked as she woke up some more.

"Saving us," the Hound told her. "Shae warned us of the attack."

"What are we doing?" Tommen asked and the Hound bent to him.

"Your Grace…the ironmen have found a way into the castle. We must leave."

"No!" Tommen shouted. "We must fight! Where is my sword?"

"You will not fight!" Cersei said in shock to her son.

"We must protect you my King," Ser Preston told him. "The army will fight but you must be taken to safety."

Just then they heard a scream from somewhere inside the castle. "What was that?" Myrcella asked in fear.

"It's time to go," the Hound told them.

"But…the people," Tommen said. "We can't leave them behind."

"There is no time," Cersei said, her voice trembling. "We must go. Clegane, lead us."

The Hound started walking swiftly and Shae stood by his side. Tommen ran to catch up to them. "Stay behind me, my King," the Hound said, his sword out, his eyes wary. As they walked five guards went ahead and five came behind.

As they walked the sounds of fighting were clearly behind them and the Hound ordered the ten guards to hang back and protect them from any surprises. Just as the ten men moved back and disappeared from sight around a corner, up front four men came around another corner and stopped. They had blood on their swords and wore Lannister armor.

"Protect Your King!" Cersei shouted to them.

But then Shae knew they were not Lannister. All four had thick beards and she could smell the stench of fish and the sea from them. "Ironmen!" she yelled.

"Kill the men, spare the women and children," one of them said and they advanced. But they did not know the sword skills of the Hound and Ser Preston and Ser Arys and in moments the fight was done. All four were down and dead or dying and the three Kingsguards men had not gotten a scratch.

The Hound pressed his sword against one wounded man's throat. "How did you get in?"

"Go to hell," the man gasped.

"You first," the Hound told him and he shoved his sword into his throat. Behind him Myrcella gasped and Shae took her in her arms and shielded her from the sight.

"It will be over soon," Shae said soothingly.

"You are forbidden to speak," Cersei reminded her.

"If I did not speak you would all be in your beds now waiting for the ironmen," Shae told her boldly.

"Look…," Cersei started to say but Tommen stopped her.

"Mother, she is right. Leave her be. Come." Shae now knew she would be pardoned…if they lived that is.

Cersei smoldered but said nothing. They walked past the dead men and moved on ahead. From behind they heard more clashes but there were no more people ahead of them.

Suddenly Ser Preston stopped. "How did they get in?"

"We don't know," the Hound told him.

"What if they came through the crypts the same way we are trying to get out?"

"Gods, they could be waiting for us," Cersei said. "We must find another way."

"There is no other way, Your Grace," the Hound told her.

"Then we must be cautious," Ser Arys advised. "We must examine the crypts before the King goes there."

"There is only the stairs going down," Cersei told them. "There are no other rooms to wait in."

"Lord Tyrion's old chambers are up ahead in the small tower," the Hound reminded her. "You can wait there while I check the crypts."

"What if we get trapped in there?" Ser Arys asked.

"The Lion's Mouth will hold for a long time yet," the Hound said. "They will not search everywhere until it falls. If the ironmen ask where the Lord of the Rock sleeps they will direct them to Lord Tywin's old chambers where the Imp's bed is now."

"We should be fighting, not hiding," Tommen said again.

Cersei bent to him. "My son, my King, if you are taken, then the castle will fall for certain. We must hide and run, and come back when the army returns with your uncles."

And so the little King nodded his agreement and the plan was carried out. The Hound went off by himself to investigate the crypts, while the others waited in Lord Tyrion's chambers. Shae had never been in here before. He had told her of the specialized furniture made for a man of his short stature but now it was all gone, no doubt to his new chambers. There was still a small table and two large chairs. The King and his sister sat on them, both very tired. Ser Arys kept an eye on the hallway as he stood by the door with it opened a slight crack, while Ser Preston stayed close to the royal personages. They had no light except what came in from the open window from the moon.

"Shae," came a soft voice and it was Cersei. She was standing by her son's chair.

"Yes…Your Grace?" Shae answered as she stepped closer.

"How did Theon Greyjoy come to tell you about this plan?"

"He wanted my help but I refused."

"What help?" Ser Preston asked in a suspicious tone.

"He wanted me to tell him where the Queen and the children slept. I offered to draw him a map, a false map because as you know I did not know where you or the children slept, Your Grace. You do recall I have been to very few places in this castle. Greyjoy suspected I was lying and so he did not take up the offer. But he spoke much of his plans."

Cersei snorted. "And you came to warn us because you love us so much?"

"Not you…your children," Shae replied with a cold stare at Cersei. "And Tyrion."

"I can still have you killed," Cersei said, her voice filled with anger.

"No, you won't, Mother," came Tommen's sharp replied from the gloom. "Ser Preston, Ser Arys, you will not harm her."

"Yes, my King," both men said from the darkness.

"She betrayed you, Tommen," Cersei said in a soft, motherly tone.

"I did not and you know it," Shae said. "My only crime was to fall in love with your brother."

"Love?" Cersei scoffed. "What does a whore know of love? No doubt you were sleeping with that squid which is how he came to tell you his secrets. Just like Tyrion told you everything which you whispered to Varys which he told Stannis."

"I never betrayed your family!" Shae said, her volume increasing as her anger got the best of her.

"Please be quiet," came Ser Arys' whispered admonishment.

"I did not," Shae repeated, in a whisper this time. "I was tortured into confessing." She wanted to add 'you were there, you should know' but thought it best not to reveal to the children what truly went on. Not yet.

"And how did you torture Greyjoy into revealing his secrets?" Cersei asked in her poor attempt at a mocking tone. "In his bed, no doubt."

Shae said nothing and Cersei scoffed again. "See, my children. The whore's tongue is silent as it should be now the truth comes out. How can you say you love Tyrion when you lay in bed with our enemies?"

"Mother," came Tommen's soft voice. "Please leave her alone."

"Please," joined in Myrcella, breaking her silence.

Shae would have hugged and kissed them then but worried what the two guards would do despite Tommen's orders. She could hear Cersei breathing hard and then came her motherly soft words. "As you wish, my children."

They were mainly silent as some more time passed and finally the Hound returned. "We must wait a while. The ironmen are everywhere."

"What if they come here?" Cersei asked, her voice betraying her fears.

"They are busy looting and feasting," the Hound told them. "This small tower will go unnoticed a while yet.'

And so they waited, keeping mostly silent, and for a while the children slept on a thick rug on the floor, and one by one the others took turns sleeping, all except the Hound, who stood by the door all the while. They grew hungry and thirsty but had no food or drink.

Finally, as the long frightening day was coming towards the night, the Hound went back out again to check on the crypts once more. He came back just as Cersei was about to tell Ser Preston to go look for him.

"Come, quickly, they are in the great hall feasting so the corridors are clear for now."

At a quick pace they reach the stairways going down and in a short time were in the crypts. Shae had never been here before and it was gloomy except for some torches on the walls. The Hound took one and handed it to Shae and then he took another. He also gave her a short sword.

"Took it off a dead man," the Hound said with no further explanation. "Can you use it?"

"I can," Shae said. It was a bit of a lie, but she felt better holding it. Stick the sharp end in those you want to kill, she knew that much. Unwittingly her gaze fell on Cersei.

"She should not be armed," Cersei admonished the Hound as she took a protective step behind Ser Preston.

Clegane snorted. "One more sword could make the difference, Your Grace. Now, where is that entrance. Ah."

He approached a bas-relief statue that was carved into the wall. "Lann the Clever," Myrcella said as she looked at it.

"Who?" Shae asked.

"The founder of our family," Tommen told her.

As they watched Clegane pressed on the left foot of the statue and to their surprise it moved. Then he pulled on the foot and the statue swung open like a door.

"Wow," said Tommen and then he coughed a bit as the dust got to him.

"Where does it go?" Ser Arys asked.

"An old gold mine, and then a long tunnel to the Golden Tooth road," Clegane told them.

"Why did I never know about this?" Cersei asked, her displeasure obvious.

Clegane almost chuckled. "Your aunt said your father did not tell you for fear you would run away instead of fight."

Cersei looked uncomfortable even in the weak torchlight as the Hound told her in his subtle way that Lord Tywin would never have run away. So she avoided the comment as if he had never said the words. "Well? Get on with it."

Now it was the Hound's turn to look uncomfortable. "There is a problem. I checked the tunnel for a bit. There is a blockage."

"You fool!" Cersei almost screamed. "Why did you take us down here?"

"It's not big but we must shift some stones and dirt. Ser Arys and I can do it while you wait inside the entrance.

"We will wait here, not in that cramped dusty place," Cersei said in a tone as if she dared anyone to argue with her.

"As you wish, Your Grace," the Hound said wearily. In moments the two big men had moved into the tunnel, carrying one of the torches.

"You best hide in the shadows, Your Grace," Ser Preston said to Cersei. "Behind these sarcophagi over here would be best."

"We should put out the torches," Shae advised as they moved to the side wall behind a row of sarcophagi.

"No," Myrcella said in fear.

"We will need them for the tunnel," Cersei added. "And you don't give orders around here." The last was for Shae.

"She's right, my Queen," Ser Preston said. "The darkness will give me an advantage if any enemies come looking while we wait. We can always light them again from the one Clegane has."

Cersei took a deep breath and then nodded. "Very well."

Ser Preston and Shae soon had the other torches off the walls and extinguished. Then they waited in the darkness. Ser Preston moved to the entrance and waited by the side, his sword out. The rest sat on the stone floor. Tommen sat with his back against his mother's chest as she held him. Myrcella sat next to them and Shae was on her other side. Suddenly Myrcella leaned against Shae and Shae put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"It will be fine," she whispered. "We will get out and find your uncles and we will be safe."

"But what about Aunt Genna and everyone else…and my friends, Joy and the others?"

"We will ransom them," Cersei promised her daughter. "And if any harm comes to any of our family then your uncles will sail to the Iron Islands and kill every last ironman and burn every last hovel on those rocks."

"I told Greyjoy the same thing," Shae said. "He does not care."

"He will die screaming," Cersei replied strongly.

And so they waited, and waited some more and finally after a long time, the Hound and Ser Arys returned. They were sweaty and dirty but looked satisfied.

"It is done, Your Grace," Ser Arys said. "We found the gold mine and the last tunnel looks clear."

"We best get inside," the Hound said and then as they got up to move, suddenly there was a light coming down the entrance corridor.

The Hound put out his torch. "The door, close it!" he whispered fiercely to Ser Arys.

"We must get in," Ser Arys said.

But there was no time as the footsteps came closer. Se Arys shut the hidden door and they all retreated behind the row of sarcophagi.

Soon they saw four people enter the crypts with a lantern. One was a serving woman by her looks, two were big bearded ironmen and the fourth was…Theon Greyjoy. Maybe the gods were kind after all, Shae thought.

"All the Lannister kings and lords are here," the woman said. "Here is Lord Tywin, my lord."

"Leave us," Theon told her and he took her lantern and she left them. Then he placed the lantern on the floor and did something so foolish Shae knew at once he would die for it. He took out his cock and pissed on Lord Tywin's grave.

"There," he said as he finished. "I have taken your castle and now I have pissed on your grave, old man. I hope you rot in hell."

Shae could sense the rising tide of rage in Cersei and even before she spoke the Hound and the other two guards were moving as if they knew what she wanted.

"Kill him!" Cersei yelled.

It was over in mere moments. The two guards were dead and Greyjoy was on his back and Cersei kept telling the Hound to kill him.

"No," the Hound said to her repeated request. "This is Theon Greyjoy. He will make a good hostage.

"Yes," Tommen said. "He is my hostage."

Ser Preston and Ser Arys seemed about to kill Theon but when Tommen spoke they obeyed and backed off.

After the Hound threatened to give Theon to the Starks if his own people would not pay, he kicked him into unconsciousness.

"Get the door," he told the others as he picked up Greyjoy's limp form. Shae ran to the hidden entrance way and did what the Hound had done and soon the door was open. They grabbed the lantern and three more torches and soon all were inside with the door shut behind them.

It was dank and dusty and Shae felt the coldness of the place. Soon they had two more torches lit and that warmed them somewhat. They began to walk. First went the Hound, then Shae, and behind her were the children and then Cersei, with the other two guards at the rear. Shae carried a torch and Cersei carried the lantern, while Ser Preston carried the other torch.

They walked for some time and then came to a pile of stones and dirt. "Careful here," the Hound said and Shae knew this must have been where they had dug through the collapsed tunnel. Soon they were in the old gold mine, Shae knew, by the straight walls and timbers that held up the ceiling. They passed by several side tunnels but the Hound kept going straight. After some time he stopped and dropped Greyjoy to the floor.

"He is too heavy," the Hound said and he grimaced in pain and Shae knew his shoulder where he had been wounded must be bothering him. The Hound suddenly slapped Greyjoy's face. "Wake up, you piece of shit."

Slowly Theon's eyes opened and Clegane grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him up. Theon was only dressed in light clothing and his sword had been taken from him. He shook the cobwebs out of his head and grimaced in pain. He had a raised lump on his forehead where the Hound had kicked him.

"My head is splitting."

"Tough," growled the Hound. Theon looked up and stared at the people around him and saw the hatred in all their faces.

"I still say we kill him now," Cersei said.

"He is my hostage!" Tommen reminded his mother.

But Theon did not even look at them, only at Shae. "You betrayed me." He spat at her. "Whore."

Shae punched him in the face, hard enough to hurt her hand and stagger Theon. He was about to hit back when the Hound grabbed his arm. "You try that again and I'll let her geld you."

Theon only grunted. "Better to kill me now like she wants. My own people will not want me back. They know I told this slut our plans and she betrayed us."

"Betrayed you?" Shae almost screamed at him. "I was a hostage you just wanted to fuck!"

"Mind your words!" Ser Arys said sharply. "The children."

"Sorry," Shae mumbled. Then she looked at back at Cersei. "He is right, his people will not want him back. They will take the gold and burn the Rock and leave. Best sell him to the Starks, Your Grace." She now looked back at Theon. "I only hope I am there when the Starks hang you."

Theon only grunted. "Lord Stark does not hang his enemies. He cuts their heads off with his great sword. At least he doesn't torture them before hand, so at least I won't suffer."

"Yes, you will," Cersei promised and Theon blanched.

"We best get going," Clegane said and they moved off, this time with Theon in front holding the lantern and the Hound directly behind with a sword at his back and a promise to use it if Theon tried to run.

A long time later they left the gold mines and were in a tunnel that Shae felt was going up and up. More walking brought them to a dead end.

"Now what?" Theon asked as he turned back to the others.

The Hound stepped forward and saw it was a stone wall. "She did not tell me about this."

"Gods!" Cersei cursed. "All this way for nothing."

"It must be a door," Myrcella said.

"A secret door!" Tommen added in excitement.

"Aye," the Hound agreed. He felt around and Shae and the children came up and moved their hands around also, looking for loose stones or…

Suddenly there was a click. "I hit something!" Myrcella said and as she pushed the stone wall moved slightly. The Hound put his weight into it and then daylight came through a long crack. More pushing and the door moved open wide enough for them to step out.

It was a cave they stepped into, a small damp cave which had an entrance where daylight came through. Shae moved immediately to the entrance. They were high up in some hilly terrain. Outside it was snowing, a light snow falling on the land all around. A path seemed to lead downwards. The air was very cold.

The Hound joined her. "Where is the sun?" he asked.

"I cannot see it," Shae said after looking around.

"I must scout ahead," he told the rest. "Wait here."

He left and they waited. Tommen complained he was thirsty and Shae was as well and knew everyone else was too. None of them had had any food or drink for more than a day now. She looked at Ser Arys. "Give me your helmet."

He stared at her like she was mad. "I will not."

"Give it to her," Tommen commanded and it was quickly done. Shae went outside and filled the helmet with snow and soon they were all sucking water from small handfuls of melting snow. Shae even gave a bit to Theon, despite the glare she got from Cersei for doing so.

"You can't torture him if he dies of thirst," Shae said and Cersei only turned away and said nothing.

The Hound returned a short time later. "The road to the Golden Tooth is below us. It is clear."

After they reached the road Ser Preston shouted. "Look!"

They all looked where he pointed and behind them they saw smoke rising in the air over the hills.

"Our home," Cersei said through gritted teeth. She glared at Theon. "You will pay for this."

He had nothing to say and there was really nothing more to say. Theon would die one way or another, they all knew. Why he didn't try to escape was hard to understand, but he looked so defeated and dejected that he just kept his head down and walked and did what the Hound told him. He was no true king, Shae thought.

All day they walked with Theon in front, shivering in his light clothing. The rest were dressed somewhat more warmly but they too soon suffered from hunger and cold. The Hound cursed for having to leave his horse Stranger behind but Tommen promised him a new horse and the Hound soon felt a little better. After a bit they found a small fall of water coming from the hillsides and they drank their fill but they were all still hungry.

"We must stop soon," Cersei said after many more hours of walking. Her voice was weak and she and the children looked miserable. "The children cannot take much more. We need food and rest."

"We must put some distance between us and the Rock in case the ironmen come looking for us, Your Grace," the Hound told her.

"There must be a village around here," said Ser Arys and no sooner were the words out of his mouth when they came across a small miner's camp with two old men who still worked the hills for gold. The men got down on their knees when they learned who their surprise guests were. They shared their food and their fire, and for this Tommen promised them title to the nearby land and the old abandoned mine they still worked. The miners also told them there was a village three leagues distance and next morning they made it there before noon. The villagers gave them shelter for another night and then in the morning provided more food and two donkeys pulling a wagon. The children, Cersei and Shae rode inside the cart, with Theon tied up inside as well.

The next day they reached a small holdfast of a minor lord and he sent word to the Golden Tooth. A party of cavalry came and escorted them the rest of the way. Lady Alysanne greeted them warmly and after Theon Greyjoy was dragged to the dungeons, they had a feast in the great hall for the royal party. Shae was there as well, at Tommen's insistence, seated at a lower table of course. Suddenly as the meal was ending Tommen stood up and asked for silence. As the people settled down he turned to where Shae was sitting.

"Stand, brave Shae," he commanded in his boy's high voice and she could not help but turn red. As she stood every eye in the great hall was on her, Cersei's an evil eye of course.

"Thank you for your bravery and help," the little King said to the lowly whore. And then in front of his mother and many others he spoke the words Shae longed to hear. "For your service I pardon your crimes. Let all the realm know this, my good people. She is free to do as she wishes."

Shae bowed to him. "Thank you, my King. I shall never forget this."

With that the feast ended, and many people whispered and looked at Shae as they left the hall. Tommen and Myrcella left the hall first and as Cersei went to follow, she gave Shae one last look. "This changes nothing," she said, with her teeth gritted, and then stormed off after her children with Ser Preston and Ser Arys following.

The Hound stood by Shae's side. "She does hate you so very much."

"No, she hates Tyrion. I am part of him."

"I…I have something to tell you," the Hound said after a brief moment, and his voice was strained.

"Yes…what is it?"

"I…the servants, I was in the kitchens, getting some wine and…they were talking about Lady Alysanne's upcoming wedding to a great lord."

Shae grinned at him. "That is good news, is it not? Why are you…oh." And suddenly she understood why he was acting strange. "A great lord. Who?"

He tried to speak but no words came and then she knew for certain.

"She is to wed Tyrion, is she not?" she asked in a whisper.

"Aye," he said heavily.

Shae felt a sudden pain in her heart and found it difficult to breathe. But she shrugged it off and looked at him. "That is wonderful news," she said in a hollow tone that she thought was cheerful. "He deserves a wife and she is so lovely. I will wish them well. I…I hope they have many children."

"Stop with the lies," Clegane said, but not harshly. "You have tears in your eyes."

Shae rubbed them furiously and sniffed. "I…there is not I can do about it. So I will wish him well."

"Aye."

They were silent for a minute. "I know why you want to give Greyjoy to the Starks," she said to him quietly, trying to change the topic to hide her pain.

He said nothing for a moment and then came one word. "Aye."

"Do you think they will let you marry her if you bring their enemy to them?"

"One can only hope. But it matters not now. I have heard more news. Winterfell is surrounded by the wights and Others."

"Gods," Shae said in fear.

"Tell Tommen and Myrcella I am sorry," he said next.

"Why?"

"Because I am leaving, tonight, and Greyjoy is coming with me."

She looked at him and knew where he meant to go. "You will never make it to Winterfell."

"I must try," he said in a bare whisper, his eyes shining with his emotions. "She is all I have left worth living for." With that he turned and walked away, and Shae stood there, her heart breaking for herself and Sandor Clegane, and once more wondered why the gods were so cruel and unfair to let them fall in love with someone they could never be with.